Pages

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

At Burgerama 2- Fuzz was one of my favorite performers. Often times labeled as one of Ty Segall's and guitarist Charlie Mootharts "side projects" it feels more like a main course. Roland Cosio rounds out the power trio providing incredible bass lines. They stun me every time I see them.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

It was Usher's first time at SXSW and he certainly made an impact as he joined Afghan Whigs on stage about 2 minutes into their cover of his song Climax. The crowd at the Fader Fort went nuts and from that point on Usher was firmly in the house. The new band performed AW's Somethin Hot, and then Usher introduced Sinkane and they all grooved on Sinkane's Runnin. The surprising set finished off with Usher's OMG as a love and positive vibe ode to Lil Wayne. As they all exited the stage the crowd chanted "USHER" "USHER" and "One More Song" but no encore came. You can catch the entire set below!

It's not that we're saying we have the best party in Austin, but we kind of have the best party in Austin. On Friday March 15th, come to Altamont/ Blundertown and Cultist presents The Altamont Showcase at The Sailor Jerry House.

If
you like awesome bands like Hanni El Khatib, King Tuff, Pangea, Nu
Sensae, White Lung, Hunters, The Blind Shake, Meat Market, and Lovely
Bad Things, good music by DJs Shannon Cornett and Yasi Cultist, warm
happiness by Sailor Jerry, and you know, making memories that will last a
lifetime (or about 12 minutes, depending on how much time you spend
with Sailor Jerry).

For the more cavalier (or just-plain-nuts) Sailor Jerry has teamed up withDowntown Terry Brown to
give free tattoos on a first-come-first-served basis. You’ll have your
choice between classic Anchor, Cherry, Star, Swallow or Shark but
here’s the rub: you’ll have to throw darts at a board to choose your
image.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

The video of Spirit Vine'sPluto Why as directed by Karri Bowman has luscious black and white tones in that 70's Italian Neo Realistic sense (but maybe neo post punk is more like it). Stark and abstract imagery, sexual peccadilloes and a lot of smoking cigs pave the way for soaring guitars, evocative vocals and a bridge break that feels like a carnival of lost souls soaked in Absinthe. Repeated viewing advised.

Norfolk, VA native, Suburban Living
is back with a new-wave flecked dream pop single, to be released on
April 16th (Dialog Records). The one man project of Wesley Bunch weaves
shimmery shoegaze with new wave textual synths and reverb for that
blissed out sound evoking wistful abandon of youth and endless nights.

A follow-up to last summer's, Cooper's Dream EP, "Always Eyes," which premiered yesterday over at Consequence of Sound,
is an extension of Bunch's signature sound, full of echoing vocals, 80s
styled guitar riffs and whip-cracking drums that COS say, "make you
itch for summer."

Suburban Living embark on a mini Southeast tour before descending upon Austin for SXSW.

Cheatahs premiered a new song, "Fall," today on Pitchfork.
The track, a work in progress that offers a preview of what's to come
from their upcoming proper debut LP, can now be streamed here: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/15085-fall/.
The East London-based band has been busy in the studio since early this
year self-producing the album, which will be released later this summer
on Wichita Recordings. Extended Plays, a compilation of their two UK-released 2012 EPs Coared and SANS, was released on February 5th, 2013 via Wichita, and has earned the four-piece praise from All Music Guide, Big Takeover, Blurt, CMJ, and TheFader.com, among others.

Next week, Cheatahs
will embark on their first North American tour that begins in Austin,
TX at SXSW. The band is confirmed to play four times at the festival
before heading out in support of Wavves and FIDLAR on a month-long,
multiple sell-out tour. A current itinerary is below.

Born
in a Camden pub and rooted in multinational friendships -
vocalist/guitarist Nathan Hewitt is Canadian, bassist Dean Reid is
American, drummer Marc Raue is German, and guitarist James Wignall is
English - Cheatahs have wasted no time since forming two years ago. After releasing a few tapes and 7"s on various labels, their debut EP Coared - recorded and produced by Reid - was released on Marshall Teller Records in the UK this past June and caught praise from NME
("...by pushing the hooks and melodies to the fore and not just relying
on the 'sound', this new quartet are elevating themselves to be one of
the best"). Wichita signed the band, which had already recorded a
follow-up EP's worth of music in their Hackney studio, after a
fortuitous Milk Music support slot in London last summer. The SANS EP was released in the UK through the label in November 2012 - earning a 5-star review from The Fly ("Cheatahs
splice American fuzz with moody British introspection. A head-spinning
reminder of the raw power of guitar strings and vocal chords") - and Extended Plays followed in the US in February.

2013
will also unveil the unprecedented takeover of the city’s historic
Rainey Street District - FILTER on Rainey, Powered by Tumbr. The FILTER
on Rainey block party will provide its brand partners with
individualized headquarter-hubs to best target and reach music fans,
providing unparalleled and unforgettable SXSW experiences for all. Also
returning to SXSW 2013 will be the infamous FILTER Magazine’s Showdown
at Cedar Street, now in its 11th year.

About FILTER Creative Group at SXSW
FILTER’s history at SXSW runs deep, as FILTER showcases have become some
of the most highly sought after destinations for both emerging and
established artists to perform, including She and Him, Broken Bells,
Grimes, Kendrick Lamar, Miike Snow, Dinosaur Jr., Clap Your Hands Say
Yeah, Of Monsters and Men, YACHT, Keane, Snow Patrol and even helping to
jump start the careers of bands such as Foster the People, Cold War
Kids and Kaiser Chiefs.

About FILTER Creative Group
FILTER Creative Group is an industry leading entertainment and creative
marketing agency devoted to championing quality brands, music, fashion
film and credible services. FILTER has implemented successful marketing
and advertising campaigns for numerous major companies, including
Toyota, Macys, Dickies, Nike, Universal, Warner Brothers, Capitol Music
Group, Interscope Records, Columbia Records, Spotify American Rag, SONY,
Guitar Center, Landmark Theatres, Converse, and many others. FILTER
Creative Group also has a publishing company that produces the
international music magazine, FILTER.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Wide Streets' Miami Zombie from the upcoming album "Saga of the Bruja" is an art punk jigsaw puzzle of a song with tight angular bursts of drums and guitars, spicy leads and Jet Elfman's cool vocals that (on this track) reminds me of an angry Isaac Brock (of Modest Mouse). I absolutely love the jammy nature of this song BUT hate how short it is. Yes, it is like a tasty dinner that a mean waitress pulls away before you finish gorging yourself. The video as directed by Grant White (shot in all the lo quality of a 1970's snuff film) is bathed in kool aid colors and plays like a surreal bath salts horror movie. I want more and will just have to play Miami Zombies over and over again.
-
Robb Donker

Sunday, March 3, 2013

The video for Ingenue, the 3rd track on the Atoms For PeaceAmok album shows Thom Yorke and Fukiko Takase as twins dressed like proper English gentlemen. The light brown tightly cut suits makes you think of the late 19th century and for whatever reason suits Thom more than skinny jeans. Maybe it is a look he should adopt more often. The choreography by Wayne McGregor (the man responsibly for Thom's dance moves in the Lotus Flower video) while playful and abstract also evokes tender emotions. While a lot of music blogs have been downplaying the impact of the Amok album, I can tell you that Ingenue and other tracks seep into your psyche over time and besides, Atoms For Peace is creating art that pleases themselves like all true artists should.
-
Robb Donker

Ingenue:

You know like the back of your hand
Who let em in
You got me into this mess so
You get me out.

You know like the back of your hand
Your bell jar.
Your collection.
Ingenue.

You get me into this mess.
Fools rushing in, yeah,
And they know it.

The seeds of the dandelion you know blow away.
In good time, I hope, I pray.
If I'm not there now physically,
I'm always before you
Come what may.

And you know it.
Fools rushing in
Yeah
Well you know it.
Who let them in?
Yeah

Well you know it
Gone with a touch of your hand
Gone with a touch of your hand
Move through the moment
Though it betrays
Transformations
Jackals and flames
If I knew now
What I knew then
Just give me more time
I hope and pray
I mistake all you say
The seeds of the dandelion you blow away

Brooklyn's Belle Mare Announce Debut, The Boat Of The Fragile Mind EP and Share Dreamy First Single

Belle Mare
are a dreamer's soundscape. This Brooklyn duo of Amelia Bushell and
Thomas Servidone meld beautifully sparse instrumentals and hushed vocals
for a enchanting and richly textured sonic experience. Their
combination of nostalgic melodic subtleties and modern synth results in a
hypnotic and introspective debut with, The Boat of the Fragile Mind EP. The first single and title track, "The Boat Of The Fragile Mind,"
is an extension of Belle Mare's ability to craft delicate and haunting
pop ballads that seep under your skin, recalling early era Mazzy Star.

Recorded
in the confines of Servidone's Brooklyn apartment, this eight song
offering of melancholiac dream pop and folk imbued with what Brooklyn Vegan calls, a "lovely air of mystery"that's a twist of old-time chanteuse, adorned with glinted pianos, and spacious textures. The Boat Of The Fragile Mind EP is officially out on April 9th and can be pre-ordered here.

Whether it is on snow, concrete or in the ocean- snowboarding, skating or surfing, I love watching top shelf athletes pushing the envelope, doing their tricks and getting high off the try and success (when they nail it).